Pennsylvania Has One of the Top 5 Cities to Spend Christmas

Christmas is here, and Pennsylvania is a great place to spend the holidays.

We already knew that Pennsylvania rocked, but now, it's official. According to FinanceBuzz, one Pennsylvania city ranked among best U.S. cities to spend Christmas in 2022.

"Few times of year are more memorable than the Christmas season when chilly temps and winter smells get us into the holiday spirit," FinanceBuzz says. "It’s also when we participate in all of our annual traditions, such as decorating the tree, stringing lights up on the house, and sipping eggnog by the fire."

That special city that made the cut is Philadelphia. It's ranked No. 5 on the tally. Of Philly, FinanceBuzz says, "The main Christmas event in Philly is arguably the Christmas Village, which takes over LOVE Park and City Hall throughout the season – complete with fun rides and mulled wine. There are also countless lighting events, Christmas shows, and parades for folks of all ages. Don’t forget to go skating at the RiverRink Winterfest on the Delaware Riverfront, visit the Dicken’s Village, and see the Macy’s Christmas Light Show narrated by Julie Andrews." Find the full list here.

Christmas is almost here, but what if you're just not in the mood to cook on the festive day? Thankfully, some restaurants are open on Christmas Day.

One of my favorite Christmas memories was actually having Christmas brunch at an IHOP during an ice storm. As the story goes, the power was out for several days, and it was freezing. My family and I stayed with some family who somehow had power a few days before Christmas. Then, closer to Christmas, we went to Grand Rapids, where the entire city had power. Since a "normal" Christmas wasn't possible, we went to IHOP on Christmas day, and it was so fun. I don't eat traditional Christmas food, since I'm a vegetarian, so I was in heaven eating chocolate-chip pancakes for Christmas brunch.

Read on for a selection of restaurants that are open on Christmas Day. Call ahead first, since some locations may have different hours and days they're open.

Oh, the Red Lobster biscuits are so good. Yes, they are perfect for Christmas. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Select Red Lobster restaurants are open on Christmas Day. Find the full list of open ones and their hours here.

https://www.redlobster.com/

This one surprises me. I had no idea that Applebee's was open on Christmas Day. Apparently, select locations are open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so you need to check with your local restaurant.

https://restaurants.applebees.com/en-us/

Boston Market serves up the kind of traditional Christmas food that people know and love. Many locations for the restaurant are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They also have their annual "heat-and-serve dinners." Check with your local restaurant for the details.

https://www.bostonmarket.com/

Waffle House is always open! Seriously, they have a 24/7/365 policy that makes them a favorite for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Who doesn't love the idea of fresh, sweet waffles on Christmas? I'm in.

https://locations.wafflehouse.com/

I already shared my IHOP story. My favorite Christmas ever was spent at an IHOP with my family. It was an emergency situation, but I loved it. IHOP is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But, as always, double check the hours at your local location.

https://www.ihop.com/en/restaurants

Denny's restaurants are open every day of the year, so that means they're a hot spot on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours may vary, so check your local location. Also, if you'd rather eat at home, Denny's has Turkey Packs that you can order and take home.

https://locations.dennys.com/search.html

The Golden Arches to the rescue! Many McDonald’s locations will be open on Christmas Day. Since it's different for corporate verses franchise locations, check with your local restaurant. I would totally stop there to get a milkshake on Christmas. Peppermint, please?

https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/restaurant-locator.html

Feel like eating Chinese food on Christmas? Many Panda Express locations will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Why not switch it up this year and go Chinese? Hours vary, so call you local location to make sure they're open.

https://www.pandaexpress.com/userlocation

If you've been up all night partying with Santa, then you probably need some java. Many Starbucks locations will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so you can get your caffeine fix. Call ahead for holiday hours.

https://www.starbucks.com/store-locator

All Perkins locations will be open on Christmas Eve, and many will be open on Christmas Day. It varies by location, so call your local spot. I've actually never been to a Perkins. I might as well try it out on Christmas! They also offer a special limited menu during the holidays, which includes a Turkey Dinner deal.

https://stores.perkinsrestaurants.com/search.html